Thought processes and conversations started under the tilted cap of Tropicana Field. Someday everyone will know the Rays play in St. Petersburg, Florida, not TAMPA, or the fictitious city of TAMPA BAY.

Jose Tabata’s Statement

Below is the statement issued in Spanish by Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jose Tabata concerning his wife kidnapping of an infant in Plant City earlier this week. The statement was given by Tabata outside of Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida this afternoon. This statement was obtained by the St. Petersburg Times reporter Alexandra Zayas. I am reprinting the article for the MLBlog.com’s community.

On Monday, Tabata had told his team he was excited to meet his baby daughter for the first time, said general manager Neal Huntington. His wife had shown people pictures of the baby.

This was the rest of his statement:

“I was completely surprised when I was told that my wife had been arrested this Tuesday because she had never shown any malicious behavior. I had no idea what to think because this news was one of the hardest blows I have had in my life and I don’t have many words that can effectively communicate all of my feelings at this time,” Tabata said in his statement.

“What I do know is that I am a Pittsburgh Pirate and my lifelong idol is Roberto Clemente. And because of that, when presented with this difficult situation, I asked myself, ‘What would Clemente do in this situation?’ I know Clemente was a man known for his decency, responsibility, doing what he says and always doing the correct thing. And I believe that the only correct thing in this moment is to tell the truth.

“As you and Pirate fans get to know me, you’ll understand that, when this is all over, I will never be able to forgive her for her cruel actions. You will also understand that I will do everything possible, with the support of God and my family here with the Pirates, to overcome this craziness. The truth is that I would never wish this situation on anybody, but I know that life has its good and its bad, and I know that the good times are not too far off in the future.

“With respect to my wife’s case, I, like you, have questions that remained unanswered. However, the sheriff’s deputies have told me not to speak about the details of her criminal case, including the details of our history together and the lies she led me to believe about her. Therefore, I will not be able to comment further or answer any of your questions until the investigation is complete. I do give thanks to God that no harm was made to that baby girl and that she is in safe hands with her parents. My thoughts will always be with them.

Finally, I am thankful for the strong support of my teammates, coaches and everyone within the Pirates organization during this difficult time. I appreciate everyone’s concern for me and I ask that you will respect my privacy both now and in the future.”

In an added note to the story:

Meanwhile, a woman in North Tampa feels like the abduction would have been prevented if sheriff’s deputies had listened to her after she tried to report a similar run-in with Pereira just last month. The circumstances are eerily similar to the Plant City abduction. Taina Lopez, a young mother, was outside a health clinic with her two-month-old baby daughter when Pereira, an old acquaintance, approached her, telling her a story.

Lopez, unlike the Plant City mother, didn’t give up the baby. Instead, she went straight to the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office. Spokeswoman Debbie Carter said no report was ever filed but that a front desk deputy vaguely remembered her. “She said she knew the woman. There was no crime. They went their separate ways and that was the end.” Lopez says her sister later spoke to Pereira, who told her she was trying to steal the young mother’s car, because someone was offering her $10,000 for it.

Lopez says she is furious that authorities dismissed her. Now, they want to hear what she has to say.

18 Comments

Poor guy. He was clearly hoodwinked by this woman. I feel really bad for him. I hope he is able to come out of this alright and that she gets the help she needs. There is clearly something wrong with her for her to continually do things like this. I pray that evryone is okay and I am glad the baby is safe.
Melissahttp://clemsongirlbaseball.mlblogs.com

I would think by now the Pirates would of had a sports psychologist speak with him and get through a few things before he co-wrote that statement with the team official by his side.
He might have a good support unit because he is going to a team setting out of state in a few weeks. By that time he can put it behind him and move forward……………..hopefully.

I know it looks bleak right now, but at 20 years old I know I thought I could conquer the world.
But like I said before, with a team behind him and the distance away from all of this, he should be fine.

This is getting crazier and it’s only just begun. We’ll hear more of this story as the days go by. I hope the team will continue to help him and be there for him. Even being away from her, he will still need to deal with legal issues as well as personal ones. I hope the media will understand that.
Canuckhttp://watercooler.mlblogs.com

This has to be the weirdest f^cking thing I’ve ever heard. I’m glad the baby is ok, and that the parents have her back safely. And I feel sorry for Mr. Tabata, who thought he was going to be a father. And is married to a complete nutcase.-Erinhttp://plunking-gomez.mlblogs.com

The media will probably feed on it until there is no more blood to suck, then move onto the next drama.
That is just the way society wants their news now. No more cookie cutter stories, all have a unique edge.
The team will have his back during all of this, which is the sign of a good organization.

I just wish she had been caught a month earlier and he would not of had this pain during the time he is trying to make it at least to triple-A with the Pirates.
He will probably go back to Altoona for a bit and chill, then they can bring him up again after all of this dies by the wayside.

Wow. Like I said before, he obviously didn’t know her very well before they got married. What a psychopath – faking a pregnancy and then stealing a baby. I sure hope they part ways and he can get back on track with his life and his career, and she ends up getting what she deserves – jail.
SueRants, Raves, and Random Thoughts

I think I can truly say that the marriage is over, and he will find a way to get rid of her. I can see a judge making this an easy no-fault divorce and he can be on his way to his career in a heartbeat.
I saw something like this in college, but she came clean before it got out of hand and they actually patched things up and are still married to this day. But sometimes insecurity can take a hold of each person in a different way.

Tabata is a good kid who just got himself into a bad situation. I mean I don’t understand how a 20 year old can marry a 45 year old. Dang. Anyways, I think he’s done everything right, and that statement he put out really makes me respect the guy a whole lot. Can’t wait to for him to get to the majors. http://eatsleepmlb.mlblogs.com/

I think the Pirates P R Department did a stand up job and should be commended on the way they took this challenge and let the player come out like a truly novice guy to the ways of the world.
I saw him play against the Rays this year, and this kid can hit and run with the best of them. He will be up with the big club by maybe September, if not sooner if an injury takes someone down. I just hope he doesn’t go into a shell of not trusting people for a bit..that could hurt him later on.

When Tabata was in the Yankee organization there were rumors that he was actually older than he claimed, more like 25 or 26. I know, still a big age difference but, I’m just saying…http://thisfanslife.mlblogs.com

Most of the players out of the South America and Carribean for some reason have that stigma to them.
I really do not know how or why they would go to the lengths they do to falsify a record like that, but then I am not trying to gain a $ 450,000 basic MLB contract either,

Who’s to say she did not lie about her age too.
I mean she can not say she was 21, but she could pass for a weather beaten 30-ish.
Iy might just be another lie that is stacked on the mountains of things she did not tell him truthfully.

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